Moffet/Moffett, J L
JOHN LEESON MOFFET
Remembered with honour Guards Cemetery: Plot IX, Row C, Grave 30.
He enlisted in August 1914 and applied for a commission 11 August 1914, having left Manchester University O.T.C. as Sergeant, aged 20, 5’10” tall, with poor teeth! He applied to be posted to the Royal Flying Corps 8 December 1914 [but presumably this never happened]. He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 27 January 1915; the medals were sent to his mother of Watford. He was killed in action early in an advance at Neuve Chapelle by a shrapnel shell. He was originally buried at Neuve Chapelle; the body was re-interred at Windy Corner in 1920.
There are articles about John in the Watford Illustrated dated 27 March 1915; and the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 13 March 1915, 20 March 1915, 10 April 1915 and 10 July 1915.
Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Ann (nee LEESON) MOFFET of Watford.
His parents married 1887 in the Watford district. Elizabeth died 3 February 1927 in Watford aged 68, and was buried 7 February in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford. Thomas remarried 1928 in the Watford district to Lilian Maud CANACOTT; he died 3 March 1938 in Watford aged 77, and was buried 7 March, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery. Lilian died 12 September 1951 in Watford aged 64.
John was born 17 May 1888 in Watford, and attended Watford Grammar School from September 1896 to July 1903. He was further educated at the City & Guilds of London Technical College, Finsbury, London, and Manchester University where he gained a B.Sc (Hons), A.M.I.E.E.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar.
On the 1891 Census, aged 2 he lived in Watford, with his parents and no siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 12 he still lived in Watford, with his parents and one sibling. On the 1911 Census, an electrical draughtsman aged 22, he was a boarder in Horwich, Lancs.
Rank
Second LieutenantUnit
3rd Battalion attached 2nd BattalionRegiment
Place buried
Date of death
10*/03/1915Age at death
26Place of death
Memorial(s)
Notes
John is also commemorated on his parent's grave in Vicarage Road Cemetery- 1st S.W. Herts Scout Troop [in St Mary's Parish Church Watford] (4)
- Abbot's Langley Herts War Memorial (17)
- Aldbury Herts War Memorial (1)
- Aldenham Herts War Memorial (located in Letchmore Heath Herts) (8)
- All Saints Church Croxley Green Herts (12)
- All Saints Church Harrow Weald Middx (2)
- All Saints Church Hertford (1)
- All Saints Church King's Langley Herts (1)
- All Saints Church Leavesden Herts (31)
- All Saints Church Witham Essex (3)